《Memory of You》


 Prologue

    Prologue


    "Alex¡­you look well." He addressed her as she came close. David, her mind childishly sneered. From the last time she had seen him half a year ago the only thing that had changed was the dark circles that were now present around his eyes. Someone had not been sleeping well by the looks of it¡­other than that he looked just as he usually did; collared shirt and pants, covered by his cloak.


    "What do you want, David?" She asked, not bothering to be courteous in the least.


    "Is that how you treat an old friend?" He asked, feigning hurt.


    "You were never a friend to begin with." She told him, not hiding her impatience. He had finally come home a few days ago, and she had been hoping to spend some more time with him before her meeting with the Upper House of Dukes.


    "So, what do you want?" She asked him again.


    Leering at her for a moment, in a way that made her skin crawl, David smiled.


    "You know...it''s rather funny, how many people know about Alexandra, the Queen of Seraphine...compared to those who know about Alexandra of Seraphine, the sorceress." He said, amused. "I wonder why so few know about what you really are...hmm?"


    Looking unimpressed, Alexandra stood with her hands on her hips.


    "Is that what you came here for? Trying to blackmail me by using that?" She asked, not at all amused.


    "It''s too bad. Everyone knows the Royal Family of Seraphine has always had special powers. So do some of the countrymen. It''s not a state secret." Alexandra pointed out.


    Looking irritated at the turn of events, David frowned at her.


    "You know Alex, we could have been great together. All you had to do was smile and accept my proposal at the ball. If it wasn''t for your meddling father, we could have been ruling this country together." He said, through gritted teeth.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "You mean, you could have been ruling this country alone. Don''t think I didn''t find out about the talks you had with my father. He told me you were inquiring about changing laws so that spouses had equal powers to their royal counterparts." Alex countered. "What were you going to do? Strip me of my power and rule Seraphine on your own?"


    "You don''t know what you''re talking about." He spat at her.


    "Why are you here then? If it''s not to annoy me with your presence, or ask me for money, or remind me of my stupidity all those years ago, why bother to come?" She asked, exasperated.


    "Well, Alex. Over the last few months in Saarsgard, I was helping out the king, when one of his advisors told me about the witch that protected the country. He also happened to mention that Seraphine was much better protected as they not only had a witch, but also had an Oracle, and Healer. Suddenly I remembered all those top secret classes you had during our courtship." He told her, with a smirk. Alexandra started to feel uneasy. Only those protecting the Royal Family and its members knew about the location of the Oracle, she hoped no one had divulged the secret.


    "So, I went looking for the witch of Saarsgard. When I found her, I asked if she would take me on as an apprentice. In return I told her I would help her overtake your powers on my way to the throne." Alexandra froze as he said this.


    "Would you like to see what I learned?" He grinned menacingly at her.


    As soon as she saw him start to move his arm, Alexandra didn''t think, with a flourish of her hand, David was sent reeling backwards, slamming against the stone wall of the castle.


    "Stupid wench, I should have done this a long time ago." He said, getting up of the ground.


    Before he could attack her, Alexandra let her anger take control. Once more David was sent spinning, hitting the large oak doors.


    When he didn''t get up immediately, Alexandra called for her guards. It was about time that David was taught a lesson. As she heard footsteps draw near, Alexandra called out to them. Mark and Valek would probably be storming down the hall by now.


    "Mark! Valek! I need you to take David to the dungeons. Make sure Samuel is standing guard the entire time. He''s dangerous." She said, thinking they would be around the corner.


    Instead, as she turned around she saw David standing up. A grimace on his face, his eyes burned with anger mixed with triumph.


    "You know what they say, Alex. Never turn your back on the enemy. Even if it is for a second."


    Before Alexandra could even think to counter him, a blast shot out with a wave of his hand.


    "Lex? Lex! Get out of the way!"

 An Excerpt From The Diary of A Queen: Reflections

    An Excerpt From The Diary of A Queen:


    Reflections


    September 15, 5026


    They say that the first year after one''s coronation is the hardest...I beg to differ. It''s almost been five years since I was crowned queen, and each passing year has been harder than the last. In fact the first year felt as though the crown itself was strangling me...trying to snuff the life out of me. It''s not that the people didn''t like me ¨C they loved me ¨C it was that I felt...guilty.


    Before taking the throne, my goal in life was to annoy my father, the King, through rebelliously doing the opposite of what he wanted me to do. I wasn''t always like this. In fact I had grown up happily with two loving parents, a great group of friends, and a country -Seraphine- which I loved. My friends, all of whom were children of the castle workers were reliable and always there for me. From Mark and Valek, both of whom were eight years older, and later became the heads of my security, to Nicholas and Sophia, the children of my parents most trusted advisors ¨C Sophie, who was the same age as me, later became my Lady in Waiting...while her older brother...who was four years senior than us, went to school in neighboring Airidia.


    There were several reasons why I may have behaved so immaturely. It may have been the impending pressures of taking over the throne...or rather the more dominant one...the pressure of being forced to marry. I can still recall how my father tried to bring up the issue of my getting married, when I was only 16 or 17. "Princesses younger than you have been married, so what is the problem?" He had asked, when I had rejected the notion out right.


    Of course, that didn''t stop him from inviting the sons of Dukes, and Lords to dinner...it was always embarrassing when my parents would leave me and a potential suitor alone. I would sit in my chair, staring at my feet and fidgeting with my fingers while the men would ask me questions. It was like an interview gone horribly wrong. Some questions would shock me into stuttering nonsense. Such as "What kind of family do you want?" or "How many kids?"...in all truth I would feel like an idiot when answering, so sometimes I would say the wrong things on purpose.


    As time progressed, I soon found a way to put an end to the matter. One day I noticed someone from my window walking around the garden with Samuel, one of the guards in training under Mark and Valek. He looked up at me with mesmerizing blue eyes, and I couldn''t think straight. Later after dinner I found him in the hall, pacing. So I asked him who he was. That was when I first met David Grimaldi. He was three years older than me, and looked very much like someone my father would not approve of, due to his roguish looks and lack of ranking. He was perfect. From then on, I would see him almost every other day, we would talk about how life was and the expectations place upon us by our parents ¨C okay...well my parents. He seemed to genuinely care about me, and was interested in my life. It didn''t take long for me to think that maybe he was the right one for me.


    As expected my father was not impressed when I asked him to let me choose a suitor for myself. His face reddened with anger at the thought of my marrying a commoner, who wasn''t even from Seraphine...but from neighboring Saarsgard ¨C a country which has relentlessly tried to murder our rulers, and take the throne. After pleading my case to my mother, she finally had my father agree to let David court me.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Once our courtship started, I started to notice things that may have been hidden by my previous rose-tinted glasses...there were times when I wanted David to talk to me, but he was more interested in speaking to the King. "I''m doing this so that we are on equal footing once we get married." He would tell me, kissing the top of my head. Just the kiss and speaking of marriage would make my heart flutter, and I wouldn''t notice what it was he was so interested in discussing with my father.


    As a few months passed us by, I started to feel as though things were going too fast. My father had now decided that we needed to be officially engaged, and had made David the Lord of Canterbury & Rosslyn, and there was more uncomfortable talk of marriage. Of course around this time I started to find it strange that the man courting me never held my hands or kissed me...just the top of my head. In fact the closer it came to us becoming a real couple, the more scared and unsure I felt.


    It was three days before the ball at which our engagement would be announced. My father suffered a heart attack. Blinded by the fear of losing him, I put all my plans on hold...including the engagement. David was not at all happy. "You know your father was against me from the start. How could you cancel the announcement?" He berated me that day. I didn''t care...I left him stranded on the stairs and ran to the Hospital wing in the castle, desperate to see my father.


    Having regained consciousness, he had been asking for me, my mother said as I arrived. That was when my father told me the truth about David. One of my father''s men had been checking in to David''s background, and what they had found would shock me. David Grimaldi of Saarsgard, was already married to Alana Erricson, daughter of Lord Erricson of Ishvale, Saarsgard. In fact...they were due to have a child born in the coming months.


    At that time I was stunned into silence. Not a word came out of my mouth. All the times David had left for some reason or another, how he never kissed me or held my hand... finally made sense. My father then told me about their discussions. David had been hoping that before our marriage, the King would change the laws which allowed the heir to the throne control over the land, to allow both the heir and their spouse control. He was hoping to take my throne from me.


    As my father asked me what I would do...I was saved from answering when he passed out from the medication he had been given. I took this opportunity to run to where David''s quarters were with Valek and Mark supporting me...and told David to leave. We were no longer together. I never told him what the King had told me.


    Two days later, my father suffered another heart attack and passed away. My mother, who was now forced to rule the country, was left heart broken...she pushed for me to take the reins of the country ¨C a task she never thought she would do without my father. About six months after my father''s death...I was crowned Queen a few months before my 18th birthday. My mother passed away two months later. I''m sure she was happy to join my father once more.


    I haven''t reflected much since I took the throne...and usually I don''t like to remember how I got here. I hope I''ve made my father proud by becoming the Queen he wanted me to be...I still feel like it''s my fault he died. I should never have pushed to marry David...


    As for David...I still see him sometime. Only in his capacity as Lord of Canterbury & Rosslyn; and Mark and Valek make sure to keep him at bay. My heart feels nothing for him. Nothing but immense hatred for how he lead me on...and helped me destroy my family.


    I wish I had listened to my parents then...but I full well know...wishing won''t change anything and it won''t bring back the dead...nothing will. All you can do is move on, and live...hoping that what you do can make up for your mistakes. So¡­this is me¡­hoping the next five years are a bit easier...


    Alexandra Astale ¨C Queen of Seraphine

 Chapter One: So Number 50326...You Are?

    Chapter One: So Number 50326...You Are?


    "Why did I agree to do this again?" Alexandra complained, as she sat down at the dining table.


    "You were the one who said she didn''t want another idiot cook who only knows how to char food. Besides, you''re doing this to show the country that employment at the castle goes through a fair and just system." Sophia replied with a little smirk. "It was your idea, Alex."


    Some days I wish I could wipe that smirk of her face, Alexandra thought viciously, gathering the skirts of her gown so that they wouldn''t get stuck under her chair.


    "Why didn''t you just ask your brother to work here?" Alexandra inquired. "Didn''t you say he graduated from culinary school in Airidia?"


    "I forgot to ask. Besides, I haven''t spoken to him for a while, I only found out he was coming back here when my parents told me." Her Lady-in-Waiting replied. "And you were the one who wanted to be fair, remember?"


    Sophia was the same age as Alexandra. With long auburn hair and deep blue-green eyes, she and Alexandra both looked similar and were average height. Something that came in useful at times. Alexandra on the other hand had golden brown eyes rimmed with green flecks, her long auburn hair was usually tied back.


    "Yes...I remember..." Alexandra mumbled with annoyance. "How could I forget with you around."


    In front of her were a number of dishes, each with a placard containing a number. Sophia handed her a clipboard with a sheet containing the same numbers, and a space for comments.


    "So we narrowed it down to the top 50, huh?" Alexandra said wearily, eying the food as her guards came into the dining hall.


    "Yup. Looks like you''re going to be fattened up, Alex." Mark commented, as he walked up to her.


    "Shut up."


    "How will you make it to the meeting with the Lower House, O Queen of Seraphine?" Valek asked bowing down, a grin coming over his face.


    Between the two of them, they had a comedy show running, Alexandra thought. The only thing was, their jokes made fun of her.


    Mark and Valek had been the heads of her security since before she became queen. The two of them were eight years older than her, and formed the Three Musketeers with Sophia''s brother Nicholas... behind their backs, Alexandra and Sophia would snicker about them as the Three Stooges.


    Both were tall and lean, but Alexandra knew that both could pack quite a punch when it came to protecting her. Mark''s soft features of bright blue eyes with brown hair, sharply contrasted with Valek''s almost whitish blond hair and green eyes.


    "Anyway, we''ll leave you to do what you do best." Valek snickered causing Alexandra to glare, as Mark started to leave.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "Where do you think you two are going?" She asked them.


    "Make rounds, do our duty. You know, top secret guard stuff." Mark replied.


    "Nope...you three are stuck here until we select the best dish." Alexandra smirked, as the Sophia and the two boys groaned. "Who''s laughing now?"


    ...


    "Okay so are we all agreed that from all the dishes number 50326 was the best one?" Valek asked after they had spent an hour deliberating.


    "Yes. That is the only good plate I''ve eaten." Alexandra concurred.


    "Yes, I''m actually surprised how the other dishes tasted so...bland..." Sophia commented.


    "So, now that we''re done here, do you mind following me to the meeting room. The lords are going to be waiting for you." Mark said, getting up from the table.


    "Fine, but Valek..." Alexandra turned to the other guard.


    "Yes, Alex."


    "Go fetch 50326...hopefully dinner will be better than Tom''s burnt chicken!"


    "How can you still think of food after all this?" Mark exclaimed.


    "It''s dinner...and besides it''s the only thing to cheer me up after going to THAT meeting..." Alexandra replied, narrowing her eyes. She knew it was her duty, but sometimes those meetings left her with a bad taste. Especially if HE decided to show up.


    "Alright, I''ll send someone for your new chef, now go to your meeting." Valek told her, sounding very parental. "You know it''s surprising how thin you are, compared to how much I see you eat!"


    "Shut up!"


    ...


    Having been summoned to the castle, he was surprised when he was asked which quarters he would like to use. Amazed that it was available he selected one that was familiar to him and settled in to the space.


    "Her Majesty has asked for you." A messenger said, knocking on his open door.


    "Of course...I''m coming." He replied.


    Combing through his brown hair using his hand, he gave himself one last look in the mirror on the wall. His steel colored eyes shined back at him.


    A part of him wondered if he was doing the right thing by coming to this place. None of his family or friends knew he had come back. How would they react?


    I guess it''s time to find out, he thought walking out of his room.


    ...


    "Please tell me that dinner is coming soon?" Alexandra slumped into her chair.


    The meeting with the lords had gone longer than she had expected, luckily HE had not come this time.


    "Looks like it''s here, Alex." Valek told her, as the doors from the kitchen opened.


    "So number 50326...you are?" Alexandra asked, as she looked down on the sheet with details of the chef.


    "Nicholas Devereux..." Stunned by the voice and seeing the name on the papers, Alexandra looked up.


    "Nick?" "Brother?" Mark, Valek, and Sophia all said simultaneously.


    "You took part in the competition? How come you never told me?" Alexandra watched as Sophia confronted her brother.


    "I wasn''t sure I would even get the job, so I didn''t want to get your hopes up. Besides...the whole point was to get the job fairly...right Your Highness." His steely grey eyes looked up at her.


    It was the first time she was seeing him, after he had left the country to go study the culinary arts in Airidia, shortly before her coronation.


    "You can still call me Alex...it''s easier to remember who I know works here...and stuff..." She mumbled, still stunned at the coincidence.


    Putting a plate of pasta in front of her, Alexandra looked up at him. He looked the same as when he''d left¡­just a little older and perhaps wiser. He was about as tall as Mark and Valek. For a moment she remembered when they were children; she had fallen down the castle''s spiral staircase, Nicholas had found her crying and helped her up after wiping her tears.


    "Well...I hope you enjoy dinner, your Highness...err...I mean Alex. I made lasagna, since I remembered how much you and Sophie loved it."


    Shaking away the thoughts she watched him go back to the other two boys. She was unsure of what to say to him.


    "As long as you don''t burn anything¡­we''re good." She told him, only to receive a grin.

 Chapter Two: You Broke My Favorite Mug?!

    Chapter Two: You Broke My Favorite Mug?!


    Walking down the stairs to the kitchen, dressed in her nightgown, Alexandra sleepily followed Sophia and Mark.


    "What''s the meaning of this? Waking me up at such an ungodly hour?" Alexandra hated hearing herself complain, but at times like these she didn''t have much choice. "I usually sleep till nine and then have breakfast at nine thirty...not seven in the morning."


    Mark looked at her with a smirk.


    "Well, if you want good food, you''re going to have to sacrifice something. Besides, Nick said that it was healthier if you ate early and had a proper meal, instead of your usual skipping breakfast." He told her, pointedly.


    "Pfftt...Nick...what does he know?"


    "It seems like he learned a lot from his time in Airidia."


    "Be quiet...I don''t need you to tell me that, Marcus..." Childishly, she stuck her tongue out at him, only making the guard laugh.


    "Come on, love, time to get some food and caffeine in you." He said, grabbing her hand and pulling her along towards the kitchen as Sophia snickered at them. Having grown up together, it was normal for both Mark and Valek to physically drag her along. Over the years, she had learned to appreciate their close friendship, there were times when aside from Sophia, the two guards were her only source of comfort. Of course when they disturbed her sleep, appreciation was the last thing on Alexandra''s mind.


    "Good morning, Highness." Nicholas said as they entered the kitchen.


    "It would have been¡­had I been allowed to sleep¡­" She muttered under her breath.


    "I apologize if it''s too early for you, but I was asked to schedule meal times and get them approved." He told her.


    "I never approved this¡­" Alexandra narrowed her eyes at Mark, who grinned.


    "I was told Mark and Valek approve your schedule."


    Pursing her lips, she shook her head.


    "Leave it to the heads of my security to find a way to disrupt my sleep." Behind her Sophia laughed.


    "Anyway, I''m going back to bed." Alexandra started to walk away but a hand from Mark, and Nicholas'' voice stopped her.


    "If you leave, you''ll miss out on my waffles with butter pecan syrup." Just the sound of it made her stomach jump for joy, but stubbornly Alexandra kept the annoyed look on her face.


    "Fine¡­but if it doesn''t taste good¡­I''m rescheduling breakfast for the next hundred years¡­" She told him.


    "Should we all be so lucky..." Valek said, coming into the kitchen.


    "Shouldn''t you be doing something...somewhere else?" Alexandra asked snidely.


    "I just finished my round of the grounds, besides I wasn''t going to miss Nick''s famous waffles."


    "Whatever..." She muttered under her breath.


    Sitting at the kitchen table, Alexandra rested her head on her arms, still sleepy. The delicious smell of waffles drafted towards her. Already she could feel her annoyance ebb away. The clank of the plate being set in front of her, made her look up. A stack of waffles with whipped cream and syrup topped with berries lay in front of her, she could hardly contain her joy.


    "Well, what do you think? Worth missing some sleep over?" Mark asked, leaning over the back of her chair.


    "I don''t know..." She said, hating to admit that he was right. "We''ll see how the rest of the week goes."This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ...


    "So catch me up, what have I missed around here over the last few years?" Nicholas asked. Having decided to eat lunch a little bit later, he had found Mark and Valek in the corridor.


    "Well...in a few weeks time, we''ll be celebrating Alex''s third year on the throne...so I guess, you''ve missed quite a bit." Mark told him, as they walked outside eating the lunch Nicholas had prepared.


    He had decided to make sandwiches, since he knew Alexandra had a meeting later, and Mark had told him she needed to finish reading some proposals for construction around the country. It would be easier for her to eat and read at the same time.


    "What else? I''m sure a lot has happened over the last two years." He asked, interested in what had gone on in his home country while he was away.


    "Where would you like us to start?" Valek asked, as they found a quiet area of the grounds, close to the stables.


    "What happened after I left for school?"


    "I thought your parents would have told you?" Mark asked him.


    "They gave me a very short summary." Nicholas admitted, he wasn''t completely clueless of what had been going on.


    "Well, after you left, Alex''s mother told her to take the crown. Alex had her coronation and a few months later her mother died." Mark said, telling him the basic facts.


    "That must have been hard." Nicholas mumbled, he remembered how the Queen had looked when her father died...guilty and shattered.


    "Yes, it was. I don''t think either of us got sleep during the three months that followed." Valek commented.


    "How come?"


    "Alex wouldn''t sleep very much. One of us would tuck her into bed, and when we''d get back to see if she was sleeping, she''d be gone." Mark explained.


    "You''d find her at the stables, or in the library, sometimes she''d be in the kitchen looking for something to eat, it was a security nightmare. When she did manage to fall asleep, sometimes she''d wake up crying." Valek said, finishing off his sandwich.


    "Kind of like when the King died..." Nicholas muttered, feeling sad for the young ruler. She had suffered so many losses in such a short span of time.


    "Yes...I think it was a little worse though...since around that time your parents left for Polaris and she was so close to them." Mark told him.


    One of the northern most countries, Polaris had replaced the Arctic after the Final Nuclear War of 2015. Nicholas remembered how his parents had decided that since both the old king and queen were dead, there would be no use for their old advisors, and made the decision to retire to the north. Although Alexandra had asked them to stay, they had politely declined, saying that it was her time to make a mark on the country.


    "So what happened to David after I left?" Nicholas asked, curious since he hadn''t seen the Lord of Canterbury & Rosslyn, or heard about him from the other castle workers.


    A dark look was exchanged between Mark and Valek.


    "What?"


    "He''s still around..." Was all they said, and Nicholas knew the subject had been closed.


    "So what else has been going on?" He asked, changing the topic. "Any new treaties...or wars with Saarsgard and Drachma?"


    ...


    Much more awake than she had been over the last three days, Alexandra walked down the staircase towards the kitchen. Sophia and Mark had decided to give her a bit of freedom, and let her get there on her own since she had promised not to disrupt the schedule.


    Sometimes I wonder who''s actually in-charge? She thought to herself.


    Knowing she was never quite alone, Alexandra glanced behind her, hoping to catch either Mark or Valek following her to make sure she showed up to breakfast. Not seeing anything, she knew better than to think they had forgotten. Both were stealthy and knew how to conceal themselves. She had many scared to death experiences thanks to the two of them.


    Arriving at the kitchen, Alexandra opened the door and let herself in. Oddly enough, the others had not beaten her here. She saw Nicholas, alone, standing at the oven, watching something, before taking notice of her.


    "Good morning, Highness. I see you''ve managed to make it here on your own...without your escorts." He smiled.


    Fidgeting with her hands behind her back, Alexandra couldn''t quite understand why she felt so awkward and nervous in his presence. He was still the same person that she used to play with as a child, and talk to as a teenager...so then why did she feel so weird?


    Annoyed at her own confusion, Alexandra shrugged.


    "I was told to behave..." She muttered, Nicholas laughed at her response.


    "Take a seat, Your Highness. Breakfast is almost ready." He told her, motioning towards the table.


    "You know you can still call me Alex?" She asked, perturbed that he kept with the formality. "Just because I''m Queen now, doesn''t change anything."


    "I know...I''m sorry..."


    Walking towards the cupboards to find herself a mug for tea, Alexandra noticed something was missing.


    "Where''s my mug?" She asked, aloud.


    "Sorry, Highness...err...Alex...you''re going to have to be more specific. I deal with too many plates, mugs, glasses, and cutlery to tell you where they are exactly."


    "It''s black...and has my name written at the bottom...it''s chipped." Alexandra explained to him, as she kept looking. Each cupboard held new glass-made mugs which were clear and sophisticated in comparison to her old ratty one...what was going on?


    Looking to where Nicholas was standing at the opposite counter holding something.


    "You don''t mean this old thing...do you?" He asked, showing what was in his hand.


    Alexandra''s heart dropped, as Mark and Valek came in to the kitchen.


    "You broke my favorite mug?!"

 Chapter Three: The Game of Revenge

    Chapter Three: The Game of Revenge


    "You broke my favorite mug?!"


    Grimacing in his mind, Nicholas didn''t know what to do as he held on to the shattered remains of her mug. How had it gone from him thinking why was she so timid around him when they already knew each other, to why couldn''t she stay shy in thirty seconds?


    Behind her, his friends shot him an amused look. I''m dead, he thought. He remembered seeing Alexandra drinking from the mug several times over the course of the week, but it had never occurred to him that she liked it so much. I broke the Queen''s mug and now she''s going to kill me...Focus, Nick! He needed to explain to Alexandra what had happened.


    "Sorry...I ordered new mugs and plates to replace the old cracked and chipped ones. I didn''t know it was your favorite." He said, hoping she wouldn''t hold a grudge, or make a big deal out of it. "I didn''t want them hurting someone."


    "But that was mine! It had my name on it...you didn''t even ask me!" She told him, looking more upset than angry.


    "I did get you a new mug for tea." He told her, rushing to get out a large clear mug, with a bag of colorful rings for the rim from the cupboard.


    "You can''t replace my mug." Alexandra told him, the tone of her voice reminded him of when they were little. ''You can''t tell me what to do!'' She would say to Valek or Mark when they would be playing around the grounds.


    "It''s just a mug, Alex." Valek told her, as he sat down at the table.


    "It''s not!" She argued.


    "Okay...who gave it to you?" Valek asked before Nicholas could, the guard sounded like he was implying something.


    "No one, Valek! I got it myself." She said, angrily.


    "Why is it your favorite?" Nicholas found himself asking, only to be caught in her glare.


    "It''s my favorite because...I bought it when I snuck out of the castle for the first time..." She told them, staring at the ground.


    "That''s it?" Valek asked sounding incredulous.


    "No...it was the first time after...after I became Queen." She told them, looking miserable. They all became quiet, a solemn look crossed Mark and Valek''s faces.


    Feeling bad about ruining something that had obviously meant a lot to her, Nicholas handed her the new mug.


    "I''m sorry...I didn''t know about that." He told her earnestly.


    "How could you? You weren''t here..." Alexandra gave him a look as she sat down, telling him he wasn''t forgiven. She took the mug and rings from him without another word.


    Leaving to grab the platter of freshly baked pastries on the counter, he stopped to take off his coat, revealing the black shirt he had on underneath.


    "Wasn''t that the time you and I left Sophie to cover for you at the meeting of the Lower House?" Mark reminisced, patting Nicholas on the shoulder, as he took a pastry before Nicholas had reached the table.


    "Yes...they didn''t even realize it wasn''t me." Nicholas saw the smile on Alexandra''s face as she remembered.


    "You went along with her?" Nicholas asked Mark.


    "Yes, I did." Mark answered, "Valek is too well known for those kinds of trips!"


    Putting the plate in front of her, Nicholas waited with bated breath, but the young queen said nothing as she took a chocolaty pastry.


    Sitting down beside Valek, he noticed someone was missing.


    "So...Where is my sister, anyway?" Nicholas asked.


    "She''s running late, she asked Alex to sleep in since Alex is scheduled to have an audience with the town of Ives next." Mark told him, taking the open seat beside the young ruler.


    "Lucky girl..." The chef heard the Queen mutter.


    As they finished eating Mark and Valek left to make one last security check of the Throne Room, leaving Alexandra in Nicholas'' care.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "You''re one of us." Valek had told him, before leaving. "Always remember that."


    While Mark had whispered.


    "Don''t worry...she won''t kill you...yet..."


    Comforting, he thought.


    Getting out the flour to start prepping for the other two meals, Nicholas glanced at the table, where Alexandra sat. From her looks, she had grown up a little bit. Gone was the face of a carefree princess, leaving behind a young Queen who looked as though there were too many burdens thrust upon her too soon. Any other person would have looked old, haggard, weary under the same pressure, but Alexandra looked beautiful, just a little bit more mature.


    Still, her eyes had managed to retain the spark he was used to seeing when they were younger. The green flecks bringing out her light brown eyes. He still didn''t understand why she had been so awkward with him over the last few days?


    Returning to the task at hand, he didn''t notice Alexandra walk up to him.


    "What are you making?" Her quiet voice startled him.


    "Chicken pot pie for your lunch." He told her, quite aware of how close she was to him.


    "Sounds delicious."


    There was a silent pause, as he continued with his work.


    "Nicholas?"


    "Yes, Highness."


    "You need to stop calling me that." She told him, a small smile on her face.


    "I''m sorry..."


    "It''s okay...and don''t worry about the mug...it was old anyway..."


    "Sorry about that..." He said, genuinely apologetic.


    Again silence settled over them.


    "Alex! Come on, we checked out the room. It''s safe." Mark''s voice called from outside.


    "I''m coming." Alexandra answered.


    "Umm...Nick?" She said, turning to him.


    "Yes?"


    "I''m glad you came back." She said, resting a hand on his cheek. "It''s nice to have you around again."


    Not waiting for him to reply, she left Nicholas standing there unsure of what had happened.


    Dazed, he started to roll out the dough again, it couldn''t have been more than fifteen minutes when the door of the kitchen opened and closed, several footsteps sounded around the room. Turning to see who had come, Nicholas found some of his cooks starting to get their pots and pans while he spotted his sous chef putting on his jacket and getting a few plates. He carried on working, setting the dough into a pie plate, before turning to see the others watching him.


    "Alright there, Head Chef, sir?" The new arrival asked, while the others all looked at him concerned. Glancing at his reflection in the metal of the refrigerator, Nicholas saw what they were staring at.


    "Yes...I''m fine..."


    ...


    Why did I do it? She wondered walking down the hall towards her room. Out of all the things she had done, she usually never pulled anything like that...It was a childish thing to do...urgh, but he broke my mug! She thought trying to justify her actions, And he makes me nervous!


    All through lunch and dinner, he hadn''t said anything about it. Giving her a polite smile, Nicholas had set her meals and not mentioned a word.


    Upon entering her room, she saw the lights were already on. What''s going on? She wondered, thinking Mark or Valek must have been around.


    Crossing to go to the adjoining bathroom, Alexandra stopped when she saw a figure stand up from her bed. Why hadn''t she noticed she wasn''t alone?


    "What are you doing here?" She asked, annoyed.


    "Well, Highness...Alex...Mark and Valek were showing me the castle, so I thought I''d see what had changed." Nicholas smiled at her. "I was lucky that I got my old room to stay in!"


    Dressed in a collared black shirt and pants, he had blended in to the shadows.


    "Uh huh...so why are you in my room?"


    "Well, I didn''t think you would be here. I was actually surprised that you kept this place. I thought you would have taken the King''s quarters upstairs."


    "I couldn''t move...besides, I have plenty of space in my room. I just keep all the documents and business type things up there." She said, still suspicious. "Why are you really here?"


    "Well, after that nice present you left me with this morning, I thought I''d drop by to make amends, since I know how much you love chocolate, I brought you the remaining chocolate pastries." He walked up to her, showing her the basket in one hand.


    As he stepped closer, Alexandra became aware of her heart pounding loudly. Taking a step back for each step he drew closer, she noticed how the space between them was quickly diminishing.


    Backed up against the wall, she looked up at him, Nicholas'' steely grey eyes were watching her closely, an amused look over his face. He still looked as handsome as he had when they were younger. Shut up! She scolded her mind.


    "I have to say, it was quite clever to make a flour hand print on my face. I didn''t even notice it until my staff started looking worried about me." He told her.


    "Well, you did break my mug." She countered, hoping to sound normal.


    "And here is my penance for that crime." He placed the basket in her hands.


    "Is that all?" She gulped, her heart racing. It had been a while since anyone had gotten that close to her, other than her guards; and for some reason Nicholas had managed to jump start her heart without her permission and she didn''t know if she liked that or not.


    When he didn''t answer, she felt his hand brush the loose hair from her face.


    "Nicholas?" Was all that she could manage. She wanted to ask what he was doing, but her words were starting to jumble up.


    His fingertips traced her collarbone, running up to gently cup her face.


    "It''s been a while since I last saw you." He told her. "I''m glad you didn''t change much from when we were kids."


    It was silent between them. His fingers traced her lips, and she found herself leaning in to his touch.


    "Alex?"


    "Hmm?" She asked, as he leaned in closer to her.


    Their lips about to meet, Alexandra could care less what he was about to tell her. Even David couldn''t ruin this moment.


    When she thought their lips would touch, his head move to her side.


    "Thanks for the job, Lex. And for keeping Soph out of trouble." He whispered in her ear, calling Alexandra by his childhood nickname for her. "Goodnight, Highness."


    With that she watched, stunned, as he walked away from her, closing the door of her room behind him.


    "What the hell was that about?" She muttered out loud after a few moments passed, blowing out an explosive breath.


    Putting the basket of pastries on her bed, she walked over to the bathroom.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, Alexandra did a double take.


    "Alex! Tell me you''re ready for bed!" She heard Mark call out.


    Staring at her own reflection, Alexandra couldn''t believe she had fallen for it.


    "That''s it! I''m going to kill him!"